The effect of sport-specific virtual reality training for soccer players on cognitive performance and related brain processing.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sport-specific training in virtual reality (VR) on perceptual and cognitive abilities and their neurophysiological correlates in young soccer players. Twenty-four young semi-elite soccer athletes were assigned to an experimental (Exp) or control (Ctr) grou...

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Publicado en:Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 44; no. 13; pp. 1694 - 1708
Autores principales: Casella, Andrea, Panacci, Camilla, Filosa, Margherita, Aydin, Merve, Boccacci, Luca, Di Russo, Francesco
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
      vid: 44
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/02640414.2026.2692300
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        atl: The effect of sport-specific virtual reality training for soccer players on cognitive performance and related brain processing.
      aug:
        au:
          Casella, Andrea
          Panacci, Camilla
          Filosa, Margherita
          Aydin, Merve
          Boccacci, Luca
          Di Russo, Francesco
        affil: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
      sug:
        subj:
          Soccer
          Athletes, Male In Adolescence
          Sport Specific Training
          Virtual Reality
          Perception Evaluation
          Cognition Evaluation
          Brain Physiology
          Training Effect (Physiology) Evaluation
          Human
          Male
          Adolescence
          Athletes, Elite
          Athletic Performance
          Evoked Potentials
          Funding Source
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Random Assignment
          Pretest-Posttest Design
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Electrophysiology
          Electroencephalography
          Processing Speed
          Cognitive Flexibility
          Memory
          Sensory Motor Integration
          Parietal Lobe
          Decision Making
          Italy
          Multivariate Analysis of Variance
          Repeated Measures
          Confidence Intervals
          Post Hoc Analysis
          Data Analysis Software
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
      ab: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sport-specific training in virtual reality (VR) on perceptual and cognitive abilities and their neurophysiological correlates in young soccer players. Twenty-four young semi-elite soccer athletes were assigned to an experimental (Exp) or control (Ctr) group. Participants' cognitive functions were tested before and after an 8-week standard soccer training using a visuomotor cognitive task during electrophysiological (EEG) recordings. The Exp group in the last 30 minutes of each training session performed the VR training aimed at improving processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. While the cognitive task allowed to measure response speed and accuracy, the EEG permitted to measure the event-related potential (ERP) evoked by the cognitive task. Results showed that both response speed and accuracy were improved in the Exp group only, and this effect could be explained by increased sensorimotor integration in prefrontal areas indexed by the prefrontal P1 (pP1) component and increased post-perceptual cognitive processing as decision-making in parietal areas indexed by the P3 component. These results support the effectiveness of VR in enhancing cognitive functions, highlighting the technology's potential for innovative training for soccer.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        randomized controlled trial
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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